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ELECTRONICS FORUMS  Get real-world advice from others about choosing a new TV, digital camera, computer or cell phone. |
Buying advice DVD recorders
If you're shopping for a DVD recorder, you can expect fine picture quality. Almost all we tested had excellent quality at the best setting, one hour per disc. Extended play can fit up to 11 hours a disc, but at very low quality. A 2- to 4-hour setting is a good compromise of quality and capacity. Most did well playing commercial DVDs. Other points to consider:
Tuner or not? Many new recorders have an ATSC tuner for over-the-air digital TV. Buy one of those if you get TV using an antenna. Once analog broadcasts end in 2009, a recorder with an ATSC tuner will let you watch digital broadcasts on any TV, even an older conventional set, without a set-top box. A recorder with no tuner is fine if you get TV using cable or satellite. However, cable users might want a recorder with a digital-cable, or QAM, tuner. All the models we tested with ATSC tuners also have QAM tuners. This will let you get basic cable without a set-top box.
Stand-alone or combo? Combos typically cost more than DVD-only recorders but give you VCR capability in the same box. They offer an easy way to transfer home videos from VHS to DVD, though you can't copy most commercial tapes. Combos take up less space than separate devices and usually simplify connections.
Which discs? Almost all recorders can use DVD-R and DVD+R write-once discs and DVD-RW and DVD+RW rewritable discs. Some can use dual-layer DVD-R DL and DVD+R DL discs, which claim twice the capacity. Many recorders can use rewritable DVD-RAM discs, and some offer simultaneous record/playback and extensive editing with them. Certain recorders offer similar capabilities with DVD-RW discs recorded in VR mode, rather than regular video mode. Disc compatibility is an issue if you want to play recordings on other machines. All DVD recorders can play standard audio CDs.
How much control? If your setup includes a cable or satellite box, choose a recorder that can control the box and switch channels or you'll have to manually select the channel for each recording.
Pseudo HD. Some models can upconvert standard-definition DVDs to simulated high-def quality on HDTVs with HDMI inputs. That might improve image quality on a plasma, LCD, or microdisplay rear-projection set, but the TV's built-in upconversion might do as well or better. Try a few settings to see which looks best.
If you're shopping for a DVD recorder, you can expect fine picture quality. Almost all we tested had excellent quality at the best setting, one hour per disc. Extended play can fit up to 11 hours a disc, but at very low quality. A 2- to 4-hour setting is a good compromise of quality and capacity. Most did well playing commercial DVDs. Other points to consider:
Tuner or not? Many new recorders have an ATSC tuner for over-the-air digital TV. Buy one of those if you get TV using an antenna. Once analog broadcasts end in 2009, a recorder with an ATSC tuner will let you watch digital broadcasts on any TV, even an older conventional set, without a set-top box. A recorder with no tuner is fine if you get TV using cable or satellite. However, cable users might want a recorder with a digital-cable, or QAM, tuner. All the models we tested with ATSC tuners also have QAM tuners. This will let you get basic cable without a set-top box.
Stand-alone or combo? Combos typically cost more than DVD-only recorders but give you VCR capability in the same box. They offer an easy way to transfer home videos from VHS to DVD, though you can't copy most commercial tapes. Combos take up less space than separate devices and usually simplify connections.
Which discs? Almost all recorders can use DVD-R and DVD+R write-once discs and DVD-RW and DVD+RW rewritable discs. Some can use dual-layer DVD-R DL and DVD+R DL discs, which claim twice the capacity. Many recorders can use rewritable DVD-RAM discs, and some offer simultaneous record/playback and extensive editing with them. Certain recorders offer similar capabilities with DVD-RW discs recorded in VR mode, rather than regular video mode. Disc compatibility is an issue if you want to play recordings on other machines. All DVD recorders can play standard audio CDs.
How much control? If your setup includes a cable or satellite box, choose a recorder that can control the box and switch channels or you'll have to manually select the channel for each recording.
Pseudo HD. Some models can upconvert standard-definition DVDs to simulated high-def quality on HDTVs with HDMI inputs. That might improve image quality on a plasma, LCD, or microdisplay rear-projection set, but the TV's built-in upconversion might do as well or better. Try a few settings to see which looks best.
